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Is there ever an “exceptional” time for children to have time off during term, and should there be any difference in the answer with regard to whether or not they are home schooled? Before September 2013, schools were able to authorise up to 10 days leave from school. The new law states that requests for […]

With the anniversary of the first world war commerated later this year, no little information on the subject is becoming available across the media. For instance, and not least, how it all started. Well, there are numerous reasons and factors involved, so here, in a single article, it is probably best to focus solely on […]

How many of us make New Year’s resolutions- or resolutions at any time of the year- and break them within days or weeks? We often hear that if you can stick to a behaviour for 21 days or 30 days, it is likely to become a habit, and therefore easier to stick to. A recent […]

Communication, in our hyper-connected, instantaneous 21st-century world, is ‘key’ (no pun intended), and even while so much of this occurs digitally, the far older human skills of language retain their primal importance. 2014’s First World War centenary reminds us what can happen between miscommunicating nations, where their pent up tensions erupted into industrial-scale global carnage. […]

Robert (or Robbie) Burns is the most famous and celebrated of all the Scottish poets. In 1801, on the fifth        anniversary of his death, nine of Burns’ friends got together for a dinner at his old home in Alloway, Scotland, to celebrate his life. This very first Burns evening was a grand affair, with a […]

There is no “right way” to intemperate complex historical events which stem from tidal movements in social mobility and advances in technology – as did the First World War. Therefore the Home Secretary, Michael Gove’s comments can be considered crass, designed to promote political mischief and in the end denigrate the sacrifices made by all […]

Even before numbers themselves were invented, people needed a way to keep track of the cost of goods they were selling. To fulfil this need, in ninth century China the abacus was invented- a basic calculating device made out of a wooden frame and counting beads. Despite the importance of being able to calculate numbers […]

It is well documented that reading for pleasure has a significant impact on children’s educational success, but what can we do to encourage this at home? The most important factor is choice. Some children are reluctant, and so it is important that they have this over what they can read – so they don’t feel […]

Despite Michael Gove’s recent questioning of reading aloud in Primary schools, there can be no doubt that reading books can have an impact on the educational attainment of children. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently stated that reading for pleasure even determines academic success, more so than social class. However, public libraries […]

Each year in Britain we mark the start of a New Year on the 1st January. Often following an evening of celebrations on 31st December, including the singing of Auld Lang Syne, (‘Auld Lang Syne’ is Scottish for ‘times gone by.’), listening to Big Ben chime midnight, going to parties, and setting off fireworks. Other countries […]